Exhaust-steam condenser



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. A. BAGHMAN & 1L0. GOETH. EXHAUST STEAM CONDENSER.

No. 544,652. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.

FIG. 2.

INVENTORSI v H-fiaJ'zm-am W WITNESSES:

Bot 6 ME, 6. By their ii tzomeys,

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 8.

JLA. BACHMAN & A. G. GOETI-I. EXHAUST STEAM CONDENSER. No. 544,652.Patented Aug. 20, 1895.

FIG. '5,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH A. BAOHMAN AND ADOLF C. GOE'IH, OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

EXHAUST-STEAM CONDENSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,652, dated August20, 1895.

Application filed July 20, 1894. Serial No. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH A. BAOHMAN and ADOLF O. GOETH, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Austin, in the county of Travis and Stateof Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inExhaust-Steam Condensers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to surface condensers, particularly to the classof such condens-' ers employed for condensing the steam 6f steam-enginesat places where the scarcity of water makes the saving of the water ofcondensation important and prevents the use of water for cooling thesurfaces of the condenser. Such condensers are particularly desirablefor use with traction-engines or other steam-engines employed in dry orarid places or where the water existing is too impure for use in asteam-boiler.

lleretofore surface condensers have been employed in which a current ofair has been forced or sucked by a blower through .the spaces betweenthe condensing-surfaces, in order that the flowing air might carry 01fthe heatradiated from these surfaces and thereby preserve theirtemperature at a sufficiently low degree to insure condensation of thesteam.

Our present invention aims to provide an improved condenser of simpleconstruction and which will be more effective and convenient inoperation than those heretofore employed. To this end, in carrying outthe invention in its preferred embodiment, we employ a sinuouscondensing surfaceas a coil or coils, for example-an inclosing-casingfor this surface, having air inlet and outlet apertures, theinlet-aperture being arranged to supply the coldest air at the coolestpoint of the condensing-surface, and the outletaperture being arrangedto withdraw the air from the hottest or steam-inlet point of thecondensing-surface, whereby the inflowing current of steam traverses thecondensingsurface in opposite direction to the air-cur rent, so that thelatter in its flow meets successively hotter surfaces as it approachesthe outlet, whereby'an active circulation of air can be secured withoutthe employment of pumps or blowers; and we also provide a collector for,the water of condensation at the discharge end of thecondensing-surface, a storage-tank for this water, means for cooling theWater in the storage-tank, and means for feeding a small quantity of thecooled water through the condensing apparatus with the inflowing steam,whereby it expedites condensation. The condensation-tank is connected tothe feed-pump of the boiler to supply the hottest water of condensationthereto, and the storage-tank is connected with the condensation-tank bya pipe through which the water of condensation is pumped and from whichit is discharged in a fine spray into the air above the storage-tank, bywhich means the minute particles of water are cooled before beingdeposited in the storage-tank. A pipe leads from the storage-tank to thecondenser and supplies a graduated stream of the cooled water to thelatter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is .a verticallongitudinalsection showing the preferred form of our improvedcondenser. Fig.2 is a fragmentary cross-section thereof out on the line2 2. Fig. 3-is an elevation,

.partly in section, showing a modification.

Fig. at is a fragmentary cross-section thereof on the line 4 4; and Fig.5 is an elevation, partly in section, of another modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, we will first describe the preferred form ofthe invention. In these figures, A is the condensing-surface; B, theexhaust-steam pipe leading thereto; 0, the discharge-pipe for water ofcondensation leading therefrom; D, the receiving-tank for this water; E,the feed-pipe taking water from this tank to an engine-boiler; F, thecooling apparatus for the condensed water; G, a pump for forcing thewater from the tank I) to a boiler and to the apparatus F; H, a pipeleading from the tank D to the pump G; I, a pipe leading from the pump Gto the apparatus F; J, a storage-tank for the water discharged by theapparatus F; K, a hood thereover; L, a pipe supplying water from thetank J to the condensing-surface; M, a casing inclosing the surface A;N, the inlet-aperture of this casing; ,0, the outlet-aperture thereof,and P the supporting-frame of the apparatus. The condensing-surface A ispreferabl composed of one or more coils of pipe at, arranged in suchmanner that they give a long sinuous or winding condensing surface orpassage from the inlet to the outlet of the coils. In the constructionshown twelve coils are disposed side by side, each consisting ofstraight lengths of pipe I), oppositely inclined, united at their endsby elbows a, separated by intervening brackets d, and all connected attop by an inlet-union or cross-pipe Q and at bottom by an outlet-unionor cross-pipe R. The coils are supported by cross-girders e at bottom,which form part of the frame P.

The exhaust-steam pipe 13 is provided with a suitable valvef and leadsfrom the exhaust of an engine or from any suitable source ofexhaust-steam to the union Q at the top of the coils. The inflowingsteam passes into the union Q and there distributes itself into thetwelve coils, downwardly through which it flows. The steam is hottest atthe top pipes and condensation gradually takes place as it flowsdownwardly through the succeeding pipes to the discharge-union R, atwhich point the condensation is supposed to becomplete and the pipes thecoolest. The water of condensation in the several coils unites in theunion R and flows downwardly through the pipe 0 to the tank D, where itcollects. The pipe E leads from any suitable feed-pump to asteam-boiler, and hot water of condensation as it. comes from thecondenser may be taken through this pipe from the tank D to the boiler.

According to one feature of our invention a stream of pure water,preferably water of condensation, is fed through the condenser with theinflowing steam to facilitate condensation, and according to anotherfeature the water used for this purpose is taken from the hot water inthe discharge-tank of the condenser and cooled in some suitable mannerbefore being fed again into the condenser. In this manner a graduatedand constant current of relatively cool water is fed into the condenser,and as it is discharged therefrom with the water of condensation it isagain cooled and used. In practice a continuous circulation of water ismaintained through the condenser, flowing therethrough in the samedirection as the steam. This is accomplished in the construction shownby the pump G, which is an ordinary pump driven by an engine S or in anysuitable manner, the induction-pipe II of which pump takes water fromthe lower part of the tank D, and the eduction-pipe T of which pumpdischarges the water in part through the feed-pipe E to a boiler and inpart into the tank J through the pipe I, from which it is drawn throughthe pipe L in a flow which is graduated by the valve 72. into thecondenser at the top of the union Q, or to any other suitable point atwhich water can be mingled with the inflowiug steam.

Our invention comprises improved means for cooling the water ofcondensation to be circulated through the condenser. According to thisimprovement the water is sprayed into the air, preferably underconsiderable t cool the latter.

pressure, and afterward collected in the tank J. To accomplish this weprovide a spray-- ing-nozzle 2' on the upper end of the dischargepipeIofthe pump and in about the center of the tank J, which nozzle dischargesthe upwardly-flowing stream of water in a fine spray or innumerableminute jets into the air above the tank. The spray or jets rise to aconsiderable distance in the air and then under the influence ofgravitation fall into the tank. During this operation a large portion ofthe heat contained in the sprayed water is abstracted by the surroundingair, and alsoa slight evaporation takes place, which has a furthercooling effect upon the particles of water, so that the water as itcollects in the tank is comparatively cool.

To prevent loss of the sprayed water we prefer to provide a hood orshield K over the tank J. This is in the nature of a coned chimney openat top and bottom, elevated slightly above the top of the tank, andhaving a lipj within the vertical plane of the outer wall of the tank,from which lip any Water collecting on the inner face of the shield mayfall back into the tank. The shield protects the spray from being blownsidewise by the wind, and also serves to permit an upward draft orair-current through the spray, the air flowing in around the lower edge7.; of the shield and out of the open top Z thereof. The shield issupported from the top of the tank J by legs m.

The inclosingcasing M is preferably a sheet-metal casing having avertical body a closely surrounding the coils a of the condenser, havingan inlet-opening N at bottom and an outlet-opening O at top. Theinletopening is formed by leaving the bottom of r the body A open, andthe outlet at top is formed in the nature of an elongated chimney havinga flaring base 19 bolted to the top of the body a and a tubular stack orchimney q carried on the top of this base. In this manner theconstruction of the shell tends to induce a natural draft upwardlythrough it, which draft must rise through the spaces between thecondensing-surfaces and tend to This draft is opposed in direction tothe course of the steam passing through the condenser, according to onefeature of our invention, whereby the speed of the upward movement ofthe air is increased by reason of the progressivelyincreasing heat ofthe condenserpipes from the bottom to the top, and the coolingeffectiveness of the draft is augmented because the coldest air onentering the casing acts against the coldest pipes and as it risesthrough the condenser and is gradually heated it acts against gradu allyhotter pipes, thereby maintaining a substantially uniformly lowertemperature for the air relatively to the pipes it successively passes,so that it serves to cool each in turn and to substantially the sameextent.

The framework P may be any suitable supporting-frame, that shownhaving-two longitudinal beams 4", to which the bodyn is-bolted, twocross-beams 9 within the-body, bolted to the tops of the beams r andcarrying the coils a and legs 8, bolted to the under sides of the beamsr. The tank D is preferably a sheetmetal tankhaving flanges t, whichsupport it by resting on the bottom flanges of thebeams r.

In operation the exhaust-steam in flowing through the condenser will bereduced to water of condensation and collect in the tank D. In someinstances and especially in cold weather the natural draft of airthrough the casing and the induced draft incident to the radiation ofheat, as described,'will be sufficient to effect complete condensation,and in such cases the auxiliary circulation of water of condensationthrough the condenser with the steam may be dispensed with. In general,however, it will be found desirable to maintain this circulation andcool the portionof the water of condensation employed therefor, eitherby the cooling apparatus F or in any other suitable manner. In such casethe pump G will be operated to spray the water above the tank J, inwhich it will be collected and from which it will be drawn intothecondenser through the pipe L.

It will be seen'that ourinvention provides an improved surface condenserwhich can be conveniently and advantageously availed of, and which whendesired can be used with practically no loss of the water of condensation.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to theparticular construction and arrangement set forth as its preferred form,as it may be availed of according to such modified details ofconstruction or arrangement of the whole or any part of the apparatus ascircumstances or the judgment of those skilled in the art may dictatewithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a modified construction in which thecondensing-surface A is composed of a series of spiral coils a, the

shell is a cylindrical shell M, mounted on.

legs 8', and the inlet-pipe B and water-pipe L are united at the outsideof the casing. In this construction the tank D'receives the dischargefrom the outlet 0, and the pump G draws the water from this tank andfeeds it directly to the pipeL' and to the feed-pipe E,'the flow beingcontrolled through the latter by its valve g and through the former byits valve h.

The apparatus may be stationary or portable, dependingupon its size orthe character of steam-engine with which it is employed.

An automatic controller for the water flowing into the coil ispreferably provided in the form of a valve U, operated by a float V inthe tank D. By reducing this flow as the wa-' ter in the tank rises, itprevents overflow in the latter.

Fig. 5 shows a construction substantially like that in Fig. 1, exceptthat the coil (1. is not inclosed, but is exposed to the outer air,

and the hood K is omitted. The other parts inthisfigure are designatedby the same letters as the like parts in Fig. l.

.lVhat we claim isa 1. In surface condensers, the cornbinatio with acondensing surface consisting of a tubular coil, having an inlet forexhaust steam at one end and an outlet for water of condensation at itsother end, of a casing inclosing. said coil and having an air inlet atits end adjacent to the outletof said coil, and an air outlet at its endadjacent to the steaminlet to said coil, wherebya natural current of airis permitted through said casing about said coil, and the cool enteringair first contacts.

with the coolest portion of said coil, and successively with hotterportions thereof, and finally near said outlet with the hottest portionof said coil, whereby an active circulation of air is maintained throughsaid casing without the employment of air forcing devices,- and the aircurrent serves to cool the condensing surface a receptacle receiving thewater of condensation from said surface, and

a circulatingsystem comprising said coil, said receptacle, and aconnection between the latter and the inlet end of said coil taking suchwater from said receptacle and feeding it through said coil.

2. In a surface condenser, a condensing coil, an inlet for exhaust steamthereto, and a discharge for water of condensation therefrom,incombination with a water circulating system applying cool water to thetop of said coil, and comprising a receptacle beneath said coilreceiving the water thus applied thereto, a tank separate from saidreceptacle and receiving water therefrom, cooling apparatus between saidreceptacle and tank cooling the water in its passage from the former tothe latter, and a discharge taking the cooled water from said tank andapplying it to said coil, whereby as such water leaves the coilit iscollected, cooled, again collected,"'and again applied to the coil.

3. In a surface condenser, a condensing coil, an inlet for exhaust steamthereto, and a discharge for water of condensation there.- from, incombination with a receptacle re ceiving the water of condensation, acirculating system communicating with said receptacle and with saidcoil, and taking water from said receptacle and supplying it to saidcoil, and cooling apparatus in said system between and separate from andexternally of both said receptacle and coil cooling the water taken fromsaid receptacle before it is supplied to. said coil, said coolingapparatus consisting of a spraying device spraying the water in the airafter it leaves said receptacle and before it is supplied to said coil,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a surface condenser,a condensing coil having an inlet for exhauststeam and a discharge for water of condensation, and a tank receivingsaid discharge, in combination with a second tank above said coil, apump taking IIO nation with a pump receiving water of condensation fromsaid discharge, a Water cooling apparatus receiving Water from saidpump, a tank containing the water cooled by said apparatus, and a pipeleading from said tank to the steam inlet of said coil and supplying thecooled water of condensation to the latter, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

6. In a surface condenser,a condensing coil having an inlet for exhauststeam and a discharge for water of condensation, in combination with awater circulating system for supplying cool water to said coil, saidsystem comprising a collecting tank beneath the coil, a pump takingWater from said tank and elevating it above the coil, a water coolingapparatus separate from said receptacle and above the latter and saidcoil, receiving and cooling the water fed by said pump, and a pipereceiving the cooled water from said apparatus and supplying it to saidcoil at the top of the latter.

7. In a surface condenser, a condensing coil having an inlet for.exhaust steam and a discharge for water of condensation,in combinationwith a Water circulating system for circulating water to cool said coil,said system comprising a pump having a discharge pipe, a spraying nozzleat the discharge end of said pipe externally of said coil spraying thedischarge therefrom into the outer air, a tank receiving the dischargedspray, and a pipe leading from said tank and taking the Water therefromto said coil.

8. In a surface condenser, a condensing coil having an inlet for exhauststeam and a discharge for Water of condensation, in combination with atank D beneath said coil receiving the discharge therefrom, a tank Fabove said coil, a pump G taking water from said tank D leading to saidtank J and having a spraying nozzle 71 therein through which thedischarge from the pump is delivered above said tank J in the form ofspray, a shield K above said tank J, a pipeL leading from said tank J tothe steam inlet of said coil, and a feed pipe E leading from said tank Dto a steam boiler, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a surface condenser, a sinuous condensing coil having an inlet forexhaust steam at top and a discharge for water of condensation atbottom, in combination with an inclosing casing M surrounding said coil,open at bottom beneath said coil,and having an elongated verticalchimney at top above said coil, said coil and easing disposed to admitingress of air to the casing beneath the coil and egress of air from thecasing above the coil, whereby a natural draft through the casing isinduced by the heat radiated from the coil, and such draft serves tocool the latter and a tank D below and receiving the water from saidcoil, a tank J above said coil, a pump having a suction communicatingwith said tank D, and a discharge into said tank J, and a valved pipe Lleading from said tank Jinto said coil, whereby a graduated stream ofwater may be circulated through said coil with the steam in oppositedirection to said draft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a condenser, a condensing coil having an inlet for exhaust steamand a discharge forwater of condensation, in combination with the Watercirculating system applying water to said coil and comprising acollecting tank beneath the coil, a discharge for the Waterabove thecoil, and a pump taking water from said tank to said discharge, and anadjustable controller in said system con-trolling the flow through saiddischarge.

11. In a condenser, a condensing coil, in combination with a watercirculating system comprising a collecting tank beneath the coil, adischarge applying water at the top of the coil, and a pump taking waterfrom said tank and supplying it to said discharge, and a regulatorcontrolling the flow of water through said system and operatingautomatically in accordance with the accumulation of water in said tank,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In'a surface condenser, a condensing coil having an inlet forexhaust steam and a dis charge for Water of condensation, in combinationwith a water or circulating system for circulating water to cool saidcoil, said system comprising a pump having two discharge pipes, one ofsaid pipes leading to a boiler, a spraying nozzle at the discharge endof the other of said pipes spraying the discharge therefrom into theair, a tank receiving the discharged spray, and a pipe leading from saidtank and taking the water therefrom to said coil.

In witness whereof we have hereunto signed our names in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

JOSEPH A. BAGHMAN. ADOLF O. GOETH.

Witnesses:

R. B. GARRETT, C. E. J ONES.

IIO

